Editor:
I am responding to the April 13 article in the Renegade Rip titled “BC in need of broom, mop.” Apparently you and the other complaining students don’t attend classes in Language Arts, the building where I teach, because I work in a very clean environment. For most of that I have Scott Smith, our custodian, to thank. He, by himself, takes care of our entire building, keeping it sparkling clean and a pleasure in which to work. He, like so many of us who work in this building, take pride in where we work and spend so much of our time. And that is in spite of the students who carelessly leave their trash and spills behind.
As far as blame, I think it’s everyone’s responsibility to pick up after his or her own self and keep our campus clean. There wouldn’t be any trash or spills if students didn’t bring food and drink into the classroom, especially when it’s not even allowed.
Do you behave that way at your own home? Or does your mother still pick up after you? No one should have to be paid to have pride in his or her school or work environment. I had pride in my school when I attended here, and I have pride now as my place of employment.
Perhaps we could look at this as a circular effect. Students pay to come here to learn. Custodians are paid to clean the facility at which students learn. Faculty is paid to teach said students. Maybe we need to charge students more so we can have more custodial help to clean the facilities in which they learn. It would also enable us to have more faculty to teach the students who want to learn!
So maybe next time you think about taking food into class, you’ll think again. Or maybe you should wipe your feet before you track dried-up leaves into class. And when you see some trash, pick it up and put it in a trashcan. But when your classroom is clean, thank your custodian! Let’s all pitch in and give credit where credit is due!
Becki Whitson
Professor of psychology
Bakersfield College